Cutting Out What Needs to Go

This past weekend I did some yard maintenance – pulling weeds, cutting, weed eating…  My yard was in need, and I was gently reminded that I needed to take care of it.  So, as a man, I attacked it.

Cutting the grass gives me a sense of accomplishment.  However, I also noticed that some things (like my crepe myrtles) needed pruning (but please do not tell my wife that I did not get to that).  I know that I need to cut and prune.  It is part of keeping up a home.

Cutting and pruning also is part of life.

There are many things that we allow to enter our lives that truly need to be cut out.  God made it clear that some things simply are not good for us.  I am talking about things like anger, course language, bitterness, slander, envy, jealousy, greed, and other things that hurt you and hurt others.

Also, there are things that we need to prune.  In John 15, Jesus said that He is the vine and His followers are branches.  He said that if a branch does not produce fruit, it needs to be cut out.  And if a branch does produce fruit, it needs to be pruned to enable more fruitfulness.

Sometimes we get involved in certain activities or groups that consume our time.  Sometimes we get into the habit of mindlessly wasting a lot of time (like sitting in front of the television or scrolling on our phones).   Though those things may not be “bad” in regular doses, when we allow them to steal away the time that we could be growing, improving, and making a difference, we allow them to become “bad” in our lives.

What do you need to prune?  What do you need to cut?

You may be able to think of some things that are holding you back.  However, identifying them and actually doing something about them are two different things.  We must cut.  We must prune.  And that is what I challenge you to begin doing today.

What I realize about my yard is that it may look good right now.  BUT, in a week or two it will not look like I did anything to it.  It will need to be addressed again.  Knowing that is not enough; I must get outside and cut the grass again.

Books by Dr. Jay Cook: